{"product_id":"merced-california-california-motel-1940s-postcard-unposted-linen","title":"Merced California California Motel 1940s Postcard Unposted Linen","description":"\u003cp data-start=\"66\" data-end=\"211\"\u003eThis 1940s postcard documents the California Motel in Merced, California, during the formative years of automobile tourism along U.S. Highway 99.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"213\" data-end=\"660\"\u003eCentral Valley towns like Merced developed roadside motels to serve motorists traveling between Los Angeles, Sacramento, and the Bay Area, reflecting the shift from rail travel to car-based mobility. Motor courts and motels were designed as self-contained rest stops offering parking, dining, and lodging in a single complex, shaping the visual culture of midcentury highways and reinforcing California’s identity as a destination reached by road.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"662\" data-end=\"1127\"\u003eThe image shows a wide, low-profile motel complex with red roofs, landscaped grounds, and a prominent roadside sign facing the highway. The printed caption reads “California Motel, Merced, California – A Good Place to Stay,” emphasizing comfort and convenience for passing travelers. The linen texture and bright color palette are characteristic of midcentury motel postcards, and the card remains unposted with no written message or postal markings on the reverse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp data-start=\"1129\" data-end=\"1418\" data-is-last-node=\"\" data-is-only-node=\"\"\u003eThe item shown in the listing is the exact item the collector will receive. We have tens of thousands of items to choose from. Shipping will always be combined (or refunded) to save you as much money as possible. Please contact us with any questions, or visit our store page for specifics.\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"Everything Ephemera","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":52979966509240,"sku":"20240804","price":12.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0939\/8740\/6008\/files\/57_13833e93-8d52-4d31-8585-966b23bec2c8.jpg?v=1773036058","url":"https:\/\/everythingephemera.com\/products\/merced-california-california-motel-1940s-postcard-unposted-linen","provider":"Everything Ephemera","version":"1.0","type":"link"}